COMPLETE RESULTS: MEN | WOMEN
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- Biola's women's cross country team recorded a fifth place finish among a contingent of 34 teams while the men team placed 14th out of 25 squads while both teams dropped time on a quick course at the UC Riverside Invitational on Saturday.
For the second meet in a row the men and women's cross country teams improved their individual PR's and team times as they raced at the Invitational. In the women's race, BYU and UC Riverside placed first and second with the Eagles' team time coming just 2:30 behind the Cougars.
Kristin Schmidt paced the Eagles with a quick 17:40 for 14th overall on the course which will be used for the Big West Conference championships in November. Rounding out the Biola top five were freshman Nychele Fischetti (18:03 - 27th), sophomore Katie Thede (18:09 - 32nd), freshman Carissa Bowman (18:15 - 38th), and sophomore Kelsey Gasner (18:39 - 55th).
Completing the scoring for the women's team, which entered the day ranked No. 9 in the latest NAIA National Poll, were Sarah Brooks (19:14), Danielle Calhoun (19:45), Erika Perez (19:48), Danielle Gomes (20:12), Kim Arroues (20:23), Katie Sikkelee (20:33) and Clarissa Kenney (21:04).
"Again, this team continues to push the edge of the envelope as being absolutely one of the finest collegiate programs in the NAIA," said Head Coach Johnathan Zimmerman. "They are a very disciplined and focused group of student-athletes and the results show it."
For the second meet this season freshman David Ricksecker (26:22), junior Kyle McNulty (26:33) and freshman Robbie Cracknell (26:57) paced the men's squad. The men, who put together one of their finest "team efforts" of the season so far, finished 14th as a team in a race that featured 25 teams and over 280 participants.
Rounding out the results for the men were Jared Bird (27:45), Smith (27:56), Evan Thibodeau (28:07), Mike Morin (28:09), Matt Arroues (29:26), and Kyle Ross (29:47).
"These guys continue to do a great job at representing Biola University as outstanding competitors," said Zimmerman. "It's awesome to see both their PR's and our team time improve."
Biola returns to action in two weeks, racing at the Vanguard Invitational on Saturday, October 11th. The weekend is Biola University Parents Weekend.
